Sunak rejected advice to release prisoners early a year ago

Discussions took place in June 2023 but aides thought backbenchers would reject proposal to ease overcrowding

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Rishi Sunak’s Downing Street team rejected advice a year ago that they should consider the early release of prisoners who had served less than half of their sentences to relieve prison overcrowding, the Guardian has been told by multiple sources.

Discussions took place inside No 10 in June 2023 over the proposal, a version of which was adopted two weeks ago by Keir Starmer’s government.